Antoine Semenyo has thrown down the gauntlet ahead of what promises to be a season-shaping collision between Manchester City and Arsenal, urging his teammates to rise to the occasion in Sunday’s blockbuster at the Etihad.
With the title race tightening, the Ghanaian forward struck a confident tone, pointing to City’s surging form as the perfect launchpad for a statement performance against the league leaders.
“Our form over the last couple of games has been good and we’re playing probably the best football we’ve played in the second half of the season,” he said. “So it’s a good time to play them (Arsenal), I guess.”
Momentum has swung sharply in City’s favor in recent weeks. A string of authoritative displays, including silverware success in the Carabao Cup against Arsenal, a commanding FA Cup result over Liverpool, and a polished league win away to Chelsea, has reignited belief within the squad.
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Semenyo didn’t shy away from drawing the contrast, suggesting the champions are peaking just as their rivals show signs of vulnerability.
“Where they’ve dipped in form, we’ve picked up form, so it’ll be interesting. We’re excited, to be honest. I feel like we’re ready for the game Sunday,” he added.
Since arriving from Bournemouth in January, the 26-year-old has settled into City’s rhythm, embracing the pressure that comes with a high-stakes title chase. Still, he stopped short of definitively branding the encounter as the decider, though he acknowledged its enormous weight.
“It’s gonna be a big one. Title-deciding, maybe? I don’t know. But it’s gonna be a tough game, don’t get me wrong.”
Despite Arsenal’s recent stumble against Bournemouth, Semenyo was quick to caution against underestimating Mikel Arteta’s side, emphasizing that their position at the summit commands respect.
“They’ve obviously lost against Bournemouth but they’re still top of the table. We’re still chasing them, so we have to give them respect in that sense.”
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Victory for City would dramatically tighten the standings, slicing the gap to three points and injecting fresh drama into an already gripping Premier League run-in.
